Advice for relocating RN?

I plan on relocating to NC in the next few months and was hoping to get some advice on the job market. I currently have just over 2 years of experience in ambulatory care (Outpatient GYN, Corrections, and College Clinic) and an ADN/BSN. I've applied for my NC endorsement, currently waiting on a temporary. With that being said:

When is the best time to apply? Will employers be willing to phone interview or hire with only a temporary? I am coming from a tough job market (Hawaii does not offer much for RNs with little experience, therefore I was never granted a position in acute care). My husband and I are torn between the Raleigh or Charlotte area (we really love both!), so our options are open. Does anyone feel that one area has more opportunities than the other? How hard should I expect it to be to get hired in any position?

I can't say there's a better time than any other when applying for jobs. However, I will say that applying during May-July is probably the worst time, as the market becomes flooded with new RN graduates looking for jobs. There's a smaller surge in applicants around January-Feb as well.

Raleigh has more opportunities than Charlotte, I'd believe - especially if you settle down somewhere in the middle of RTP you have access to Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham.

Thank you for pointing that out about the rush of new grads during that time frame. I'm hoping that the creditialing process goes quickly so I can start my search in the next couple months with an active NC license. Thanks again!